Welcome
Hello and welcome to my portfolio. My time in the MLIS program has been remarkable. The course of study stretched my intellect, my creativity and my self-confidence. I have yet to make my debut as a librarian-person official, and from the time I entered the program to now I have changed the focus of what that might look like when it does happen. Through this program of study I have had the opportunity to learn things that I have been able to apply in my fieldwork, across the board in my academic work, and even in my personal life. I have been able to assist friends with their information needs. I have seen what else is out there and have become excited about information literacy, health sciences and community college librarianship. This has been time well spent and I give you a glimpse at some of the fruits of my efforts, some of which have been just about Herculean for me and all the more satisfying.
About that self-confidence...
I would not describe myself as a natural when it comes to academics. I am a first generation college graduate. and actually enrolling as an undergraduate back in the 80's came as something as a surprise even to me. That I actually completed a BAEd came as an additional surprise. Never mind even considering a Master's degree - that was for... other people... not me. And yet here I am - almost finished. This program itself has been profoundly significant to me because I proved to myself that I can do excellent graduate work, of which I am quite proud. PhD? You must be joking...
Thank you
No one goes into graduate school alone. My whole family came along with me and a few of our friends. I cannot thank my husband Len enough for his sacrifices and encouragement and his weekends in BC with our daughter so I could have the house to myself. My 5-year-old daughter Kate missed out on some time with me because "Mommy had to do school work" . My baby Jake hasn't been through it with us from the beginning, but he has had to be dressed funny by Daddy more than once. Thank you to my parents Glen and Marlene and my mother-in-law Gloria in BC. Thank you to Nancy and Paul for spending their time with Kate while I did my thing. Thank you to my advisor Mike, to Trent and to Marie . Thank you to Dimitri for showing me how it's done and to Melanie for assuring me that graduate school is supposed to make you feel that way.